Foreign Minister Highlights Importance of Key Developmental Pillars

19^th January 2010, Male’: Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Ahmed Shaheed has highlighted the importance of the key developmental pillars outlined in the new United Nations Developmental Assistance Framework that is being designed for 2011 to 2015.  The Minister made the statement at the High Level Meeting organized by the Government and the UN today held at Dharubaaruge.

“The four pillars represents the top-line priorities for the collaborative efforts between the UN Country Team and the Government of Maldives and it emphasises distributive justice, environmental resilience, human rights and democracy, and gender equality”, said the Minister. The Framework integrates the pursuit of the Millennium Development Goals and the National Strategic Action Plan, based on the Election Manifesto of the MDP-Alliance. 

The Minister also noted that UNDAF 2011 – 2015 begins at a very critical juncture in Maldivian history. On 1 January 2011 the Maldives will officially become a Middle Income Country. Although graduation from the list of Least Developed Countries is considered a celebratory benchmark in a country’s development, it also means confronting a new set of developmental challenges, including the prospect of competing in a global economy on par with larger and established economies. Graduation will cast a shadow over aid mobilisation efforts, but one of the objectives of UNDAF is to adapt to a post-LDC situation.

Concluding his statement, the Minister expressed Government’s sincere appreciation on the positive role the donor community has contributed in the face of dire economic challenges.  In particularly heartened by the presence of the high powered donor presence today, proves the Maldives is on the right path to achieving its developmental goals. As such the Minister announced that, in two months, the Government would be hosting a donor conference that is designed to develop further collaborations and engagements between the Maldives and its partners.

END.